BIOABSORPTION ABILITIES OF ALGAE INHABITING THE COAST OF KARACHI

 

ISHRAT RANI^1*, ALIYA REHMAN¹, ALIA B. MUNSHI², FAROOQ AHMED KHAN²

AND SALEEM SHAHZAD³

 

¹Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan

²PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi-75280, Pakistan

³Department of Agriculture and agribusiness management University of Karachi-75270, Pakistan

^*Corresponding Author email: ishratrana_rani@yahoo.com,

 

Abstract

 

Due to expansion of human population and intensification of the industrialization, heavy metal pollution has become a life threatening problems. Of the various remediation technologies, bioabsorption of heavy metals by microorganisms is one of the most successful and alternative methods. During the present studies, a great variation in bioabsorption abilities of Padina tetrastromatica, Cystoseira indica, Ulva fasciata, and Codium iyengarii inhabiting the coast of Karachi was observed. C. iyengarii was most efficient for Nickel and chromium removal, whereas C. indica and U. fasciata were efficient for the removal of cobalt and copper, respectively.

 

Key words: Heavy metal pollution, Bioremediation, Bioabsorption, Algae.